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Ukrainian parliament votes to stop counter-terrorism operation

The resolution passed by the parliament also calls for releasing all detained protesters and prohibits police from blocking roads

KIEV, February 21. /ITAR-TASS/. The parliament of Ukraine on Thursday, February 20, voted to stop the counter-terrorism operation in the country and return all law enforcement units to their permanent bases.

The resolution passed by the parliament also calls for releasing all detained persons and prohibits police from blocking roads.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich’s permanent representative in the parliament, Yuri Miroshnichenko, said the main task was to stop the bloodshed in the country.

“The first and foremost task we are facing is to stop the bloodshed. This is why the president held meetings and spent hours consulting with our colleagues from the European Union. This is why he invited opposition leaders to a meeting,” he said.

Miroshnichernko said there was no time for long discussions. “We need to adopt a consolidated decision that will be voted for by the whole parliament. If only a part of MPs vote for it, this will bring no peace and calm. This is why it is fundamentally important to work out a common position and state an action plan, which each side - demonstrators and the authorities - will comply with strictly. This is what the president is talking about,” Miroshnichenko said.

“Although emotions fly high, we have no other way but to adopt legitimate decisions. And these decisions are being adopted,” he said.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Poland, Germany and France have achieved progress at the talks with the opposition and the authorities in Kiev.

“After the talks with the opposition we go back to President Yanukovich to help him at the talks. Progress has been achieved but important disagreements remain,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.

The Polish, German and French ministers will remain in Kiev for overnight talks. They were sent to the Ukrainian capital on a diplomatic mission by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. They had a four-hour meeting with Yanukovich and then conferred with opposition leaders.

The meeting with the opposition was very long. Discussed were the issues previously talked about with Yanukovich: early presidential and parliamentary elections, constitutional amendments and formation of a new government, a diplomatic source told the Polish Press Agency said.